Los Angeles Looks to Bounce Back in Franchise’s First Home Opener April 5

LA KISS continued their inaugural campaign Friday night against Arena Football League mainstay, the Orlando Predators at CFE Arena. The first-year team came up just short on the road, losing 69-63 in overtime.

LA KISS dominated the first quarter of the game, and jumped out to a 21-0 lead after tallying scores on both sides of the ball. They maintained the lead going into halftime up 42-34.

Orlando battled back in the second half of what proved to be another hard-fought, back-and-forth contest. The Predators took their first lead late in the 4th quarter, going up 63-56 with 43 seconds left in regulation. LA KISS quarterback J.J. Raterink quickly tied the game 12 seconds later on a 35-yard touchdown pass and the Los Angeles defense held the home team on the ensuing drive to take things into overtime.

LA KISS received the ball in the opening possession of overtime, but turned it over on a Raterink interception. Two plays later, Orlando scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to win the game.

Veteran wide receiver Donovan Morgan was impressive on the offensive side of the ball Friday night, totaling six receptions for 63 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Beau Bell led the team once again with eight total tackles.

LA KISS have a bye next weekend and resume play Saturday, April 5th, against the Portland Thunder in the heavily anticipated home opener of their inaugural season. The game will be nationally televised by CBS Sports Network, beginning at 6:30PM (PST). Single game tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or the Honda Center box office.

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Jeremy Meyer is a Los Angeles based Sports and Entertainment reporter. Meyer began his career working as the Santa Monica College football beat reporter for the Santa Monica Daily Press before taking a job with Westside Chronicle to work the beat for UCLA/USC Football and the Avengers before moving on to cover the San Diego Chargers.